Yallingup delivered the goods last weekend for the first state round of the Sunsmart Longboard Series for 2007. Offshore winds and a good clean swell allowed competitors to set the pace for the preliminary round of the series.

The much anticipated open men’s division did not disappoint spectators or judges as finalists pushed each other to see who would draw first blood. Fresh from a fifth placing in Queensland’s infamous Noosa Festival of Surfing event, Rahn Goddard from City Beach was looking more than amped to showcase his talent, but did not count on a hungry Jared Foster from Yallingup.

Foster who surfed through the entire event with 17 stitches in his shin did not let his injury deter his goal of winning the final. With Goddard, Jason Belcher (Hillarys) and Daniel Corbett (City Beach) all eyeing off the winner’s trophy, Foster again rose to the occasion and lifted his surfing another notch. Fast, fluid and powerful manouvres saw Foster ultimately take the lead and keep it with 10 minutes remaining in the final.

“It’s always good to win the first event, it sought of gives you a positive outlook on the remaining rounds. The board I was riding is brand new and I want to thank Steve Del Rosso for the sick board. I also want to thank all my other sponsors and everyone involved for a great event,” said Foster.

In the Women’s Open Final Lucy Pries from Bunbury confirmed the adage of the “older you get, the better you get” and like a fine bottle of wine Pries was uncorked to give her fellow competitors a taste of things to come. Pries had to contend with girls 20 years younger to win her first ever open final.

Swanbournes Georgia Young made Preis work hard for he win with Claire Finucane (Melville) and Arlene Nagtzaam (Yallingup) also putting the pressure on to try and snatch the lead from Pries. In the end Pries hung onto the win by the slimmest of margins and took victory by just 0.90 of a point from Young.

“I’m over the moon with the win and didn’t really think I had done enough for first place, but it looks like I did. I’m so happy, I have never won an open event before,” said Pries.

Geraldton’s Ryan Wright was the man to beat in the under 21 Pro Junior final. The powerful and stylish natural footer could do no wrong and continually waited for the better waves which only seemed to appear and be caught by him. Leaving his fellow finalists Michael McCormick (Mullaloo), Trent Merifield (Dunsborough) and Michael Corbett (City Beach) slim pickings of what was left on offer. Wright again could do no wrong, paced himself and peaked at the right moment to win the final of the Pro junior.

Grace Clifford (Cottesloe) had a win over Katherine Van Kampen (Bicton) in the Under 18 Girl’s Final while Sam Tucker from from Dunsborough claimed victory over Dan Refeld (Hillarys) in the Under 18 Boy’s Final.

The Over 35 Men’s Final saw Wayne Lupton (Dunsborough) snatch a win from Jason Weeks from Dunsborough with Arlene Nagtzaam (Yallingup) turning the table on Lucy Pries (Bunbury) to win the Over 35 Women’s.

Kevin Anderson (North Fremantle) secured the winners trophy over Brett Merifield (Dunsborough) in the over 40 mens final and an impressive duel between Barrie McKinnon (Dunsborough) saw him reassert his dominance in the Over 45 Final to win from Richard Wain (Yallingup).